A Democratic Gathering bloc delegation, of MP Walid Jumblat, visited Speaker Nabih Berri on Saturday where talks focused on the controversial election law that will govern the upcoming parliamentary polls, al-Joumhouria daily reported.

The bloc's visit is part of several it plans to pay to officials, the most recent was a meeting with President Michel Aoun who had earlier expressed support for a proportional representation system.

President Michel Aoun received on Saturday at the Presidential Palace Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the National News Agency reported.

Al-Jaafari arrived in Beirut on Saturday at dawn accompanied by a delegation from the foreign ministry, NNA said.

Lebanese national Saad Risha, 74, was released by his kidnappers on Saturday after a three-day abduction that mobilized the Lebanese army and officials in the country including President Michel Aoun who assured that the presidency was following up on the case.

Risha arrived early Saturday at his house in the Bekaa town of Qab Elias, accompanied by Speaker Nabih Berri's envoy Bassam Tleis. He was greeted by a crowd of family and friends, the National News Agency reported on Saturday.

Efforts between the various Lebanese political parties are ceaseless in order to agree on a new electoral law, amid assurances that the 1960 law won't be adopted and the parliament's term will not extended another time nor will the Lebanese face a fait accompli situation, al-Jouhmouria daily reported on Saturday.

Lebanese Forces sources told the daily: “Meetings are proceeding in a rapid pace on a daily basis between the various political parties to agree on a new law.

Relatives of a 74-year-old man who was abducted on Wednesday blocked several key roads in central Bekaa on Thursday and threatened to carry out counter-kidnaps if he is not freed by 8:00 PM.

The angry relatives of Saad Risha blocked several roads with dirt, trucks and burning tires, media reports said.

The Lebanese army has erected checkpoints on the roads and entrances leading to the southern town of al-Nabatieh, the National News Agency reported on Thursday.

NNA said ,army troops and military vehicles were positioned at the checkpoints in search of fugitives.

General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim said although the security situation in Lebanon is “under control,” but vigilance is essential to counter threats of Islamic State retaliation as the result of its losses in the region, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Thursday.

“The situation is under control, the security in our country may be better than many other surrounding countries, or even better than many states around the world,” said Abbas in an interview to al-Joumhouria saily on Thursday.

The Lebanese army kicked off efforts early on Wednesday and closed the illegal crossings on the Lebanese-Syrian border in the northern Beqaa district of Hermel, media reports said.

It embarked on closing the crossings near the towns of al-Qasr and Hosh Sayyed Ali, the reports added.

A Progressive Socialist party delegation met with President Michel Aoun on Wednesday, where talks focused on the controversial electoral law, amid reports saying that the PSP leader MP Walid Jumblat had planned to suggest some amendments to the 1960 electoral law.

The delegation included the MPs: Wael Abou Faour, Ghazi al-Aridi, Akram Shehayyeb, Alaa Terron and Henri Helou.

In light of the debate over approving a new electoral law, Speaker Nabih Berri urged the cabinet to implement the pledges it made in its ministerial statement, and assured that the parliament will study and approve all 75 draft laws listed on its agenda.

Berri renewed rejections on Wednesday for staging the upcoming parliamentary elections based on the current 1960 law or the extension of the parliament's term, saying: “No need to explain my stance again. I have reached the threshold of despair,” he told Ad Diyar in an interview.